The 85-year-old actor — who mentioned he believes the late monarch was “fairly mad on the finish” — claimed the Queen made “bloody impolite” remarks to him when awarding him with a medal for performing in 2008.
Sir Ian McKellan is recalling his encounters with the late Queen Elizabeth II. And in accordance with the legendary actor, the British monarch did not make one of the best first impression.
In a brand new interview with The Occasions, McKellan, 85, claimed that Queen Elizabeth II was “fairly impolite” to him throughout their a number of encounters, together with when he was awarded a medal from the royal in 2008.
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“The Queen, I am certain she was fairly mad on the finish,” the Lord of the Rings star mentioned of the late queen, who died in 2022. “And on the few events I met her she was fairly impolite. Once I obtained a medal for performing [the Companion of Honour in 2008], she mentioned, ‘You’ve got been doing this for an awfully very long time.’ I mentioned, ‘Effectively, not so long as you.’ I acquired a royal smile for that, however then she mentioned, ‘Does anybody nonetheless truly go to the theatre?'”
“That is bloody impolite if you’re giving somebody a medal for performing. It meant, ‘Does anybody care a f–k about you as a result of I do not. Now off you go!”
The Occasions mentioned McKellan needed the journalist to grasp Queen Elizabeth II’s handshake, with the outlet noting that the X-Males star recreated how the late monarch would apparently shake arms.
“I will be the Queen,” McKellan mentioned, to which the reporter mentioned he gave them his hand, which they tried to shake, however he “shoved [them] away with some pressure.”
“That was her handshake and it meant, ‘Go! Go!'” he added.
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Additionally through the interview, The Hobbit star gave his two cents on different members of the British royal household.
“I am most positively on Harry’s aspect,” McKellan mentioned of Prince Harry, who’s estranged from his father, King Charles III, and his brother Prince William.
“Think about being born into the royal household. I have been in public life a bit, however these individuals are in jail. They cannot do something regular,” he defined. “Are you able to think about having to be good to everybody you speak to?”
The Occasions famous that McKellan appeared involved about how being a royal negatively impacts one’s psychological well being. (One thing, after all, Harry and his spouse Meghan Markle have overtly mentioned.)
“Hats off to anybody who manages to remain sane in that world,” McKellan mentioned. “Just like the [late] Duke of Edinburgh managed to do, though even he was deeply, deeply eccentric and I believe deeply sad.”
“Identical with the current king. He type of survives, however he’s clearly broken,” he added. “As for Harry, he is most likely not shiny sufficient or doesn’t have the appropriate associates to essentially assist himself. Thoughts you, he had the choose of all the beautiful ladies on the planet. I hope he is acquired the appropriate one.”
